Was in Irvine visiting my son at UCI, looking for a great noodle spot. Came across Marugame Udon, great spot! Pro tip: if you are a UCI student with ID, you get 15% off, always great to save if you are a student. Not sure how long they have been open, but still has a "now open" sign up. When you walk in, you order a la cart when you like, Udon, Bento's, Tempura, chicken, Croquette's, drinks, etc. we both went with the #1 Udon spicy of course. Added some kabocha tempura and a piece of chicken and a canned soda. The only thing I wish is they had fountain soda vs canned, always a bummer if they serve cans in my opinion. They do have a station for crunch ice and water, which is nice. Once you get your food, you can add green onion, tempura flakes, spicy flakes, etc. the udon, spice level, tempura, chicken were all excellent, ate everything and wanted more even though I was completely full. The space is open and the kitchen is on display where they make the homemade udon noodles and lot of searing inside and a few outside in front. Recommend you check them out and get some great food at pretty decent prices. Enjoy! read more

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Marugame Udon offers comforting fresh udon and crispy tempura. We arrived around noon on a Monday and waited about 5 minutes before placing our order. I ordered a regular curry beef nikutama udon and grabbed a potato croquette tempura. I topped it with tempura flakes and green onions right before paying at the cashier. The curry udon has always been my favorite at all the Marugame Udon locations and this Irvine location was no different. I love the savory rich broth that coats the udon well. The onsen egg adds an additional layer of creaminess that brings the bowl together. read more

Marugame Udon - Curry Nikutama - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

marugame is always a hit. this location was fast, had plenty of seating and parking which i appreciated. no other notes! read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Came here on a Wednesday night after playing some tennis with friends and needed something to warm us up so went to Marugame. Parking was very difficult at the Diamond Jamboree, probably spent 10-15 minutes circling around for parking which would be an issue for any business there. The inside was bright and spacious with plenty of seating. I saw they had new menu items so I decided to try the Tonkatsu Udon. You can customize your preference of green onions and tempura crisps. Tonkatsu Udon 6/10 - Upon first sip the broth was good, but nothing special. I loved having the thick udon noodles. The chashu portion was huge, but just okay. It was a little tough and on the sweeter side which I didn't expect. Overall an okay dish, would probably recommend their other soups instead. I think what you pay for here is the convenience and speed of the food. The whole process from ordering to paying to eating is less than 5 minutes (depending on how long the line is). Is it the best udon? No, but still solid and a quick and easy option. read more

Marugame Udon - Creamy Broth Udon-Tonkotsu Style - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Pretty good fast-casual lunch spot in diamond jamboree. Parking in this area at night can sometimes be troubling, and I'd anticipate a longer line than lunch. Aesthetic & Ambiance: 7/10 nothing special, layout is almost like a chipotle style udon, but they do clean tables frequently. The ambiance is hustling during lunch time, but volume isn't an issue. Service: 8/10 mainly self service with just selecting your main dish Creamy Udon: 7/10 broth was definitely creamy much like tonkotsu, I wish there was more to the dish than the egg and pork chashu. I did add green onions but felt like it needed more. read more

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Marugame Udon is one of my fave cheap eats! I prefer this location over the one at South Coast, as it's much brighter and less cramped. My go to is the Nikutama. I can never seem to order anything else. Love how quickly you get your food! I'm somewhere between four and five stars, but will give it a five for service. Even though you are supposed to bus your own tray, someone came by and offered to take our trays before we even had the chance. Parking at Diamond Jamboree can be tough. We got lucky and got a space in the parking garage. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Marugame udon is always a great staple for a cold day so I'm glad they opened one near me! I usually get the beef udon but this time I got their special tomatama curry udon and it was just as yummy. The interior is very spacious with plenty of tables inside and outside making the ambiance very welcoming and inviting! The service was great too! I definitely recommend! read more

Marugame Udon - Beef Tomatama Curry Udon - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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I really like this location because it's not super busy all the time and they left the add on station out so you can get however much you would like ! This was feedback for the recent limited udon bowl. I got the mentai butter udon and I was a little bit disappointed! I thought it would at least come with a sauce or something to balance out the meal but it was strauhjt up juet one small slap of butter and a small scoops of mentai. This wasnt enough to cover ALLL of my udon so it was so dry and bad. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

I've been going to the Marugame in south coast plaza for yearssss but this was my first time trying the Irvine location! I loved how spacious it was inside compared to the Costa Mesa one, and it was a delicious meal but I do think the other location is just slightly tastier and the tempura selection was very empty when I went which was a little after 6 pm on a Wednesday. This was all okay because I still got what I wanted after waiting just about a minute or two, and I really enjoyed it!! My only actual complaint is that I was sitting right underneath the air vent and the condensation from it dripped on me twice before I moved over, which really kind of grossed me out and made my experience here not as great as it could have been because there shouldn't be any area where customers can get dripped on by something from the ceiling. I hope they fix this, but in case they don't, make sure to look up before sitting down to make sure you're not right underneath a vent!!! read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Always our favorite spot for an affordable meal in dj! There has always been seating available when we've visited, service is very quick as well! read more

Marugame Udon - Menu - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

This place is so good, especially this location. Parking is terrible though but the foods always hit! I personally like the beef udon bowl. I like how the Irvine location has ample seatings and a water & untensils area compared to the Costa Mesa location located inside the South Coast Plaza mall. Service is speedy fast if you go before lunch rush in the morning right when they open. read more

The store ambience is super cool! It's like a cafeteria! You order your udon & get a tray. You use the tongs to grab whatever tempura you want and check out! Such a cool concept!! They also make your udon fresh for you once you order! The food itself was ok. I got the tonkatsu udon & the broth was good however the noodles were not a good texture for me. The beef gyudon was too sweet. The service is fast & I think it's a great spot for lunch but I don't think I'd go back as their menu is a bit limited. There's basically only 2 broths to choose from. read more

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Stopped by Marugame Udon in Irvine and ordered the Nikutama. Simple combo of udon, dashi broth, sliced beef, and a poached egg, but it is really good. The broth was savory and comforting, the beef was tender and flavorful. Ordering is straightforward since you move down the line and customize as you go. The food is ready super fast, so it is perfect for a quick bite. Don't be scared of a short line. It's casual, efficient, and consistently good. Easy place to come back to when you want something warm and satisfying. read more

Marugame Udon - Nikutama. Regular size - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Marugame got me hooked. We got the sweet beef udon with a side of a tempura shrimp, egg roll, and pork Katsu. There were all so good! They even have a station where you can get graded ginger, which goes so well with the udon soup. I would highly recommend you do that. Service was great. We were greeted as soon as we got through the doors. And the cooks worked really fast to make sure that we got what we wanted quickly so we can eat right away. The ambience was great. There's a lot of a seating in the restaurant. We will be back for some more delicious food. read more

Marugame Udon - Sweet beef, udon and tempura rolled eggs and pork Katsu - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Meals are poorly prepared - Overcooked mushy soup tasted off very bland. Very Nice employees, but unfortunately they do not know how to make udon or tempura. read more

As a newbie to Marugame Udon, I was a bit overwhelmed upon arrival. Their system has you look at the menu as you enter, then you talk to someone behind the counter, as you walk to the cashier their is a hot buffet of add-ons. But now that we went through the whole bit I feel like our next visit will be less stressful. Mind you, we came in after 15 minutes of finding a parking spot inside the garage (no luck) then circling around the parking lot a couple of times; arriving with two cranky toddlers. We needed to sit down and look at the menu before deciding what to order. Udon was delicious. Shrimp tempura was fantastic. Loved all the food. This place seemed to be the family spot as we noticed a few other families dining. Looking forward to coming back! read more

Came here for lunch on a Thursday. The place was pretty empty around 11 AM. The workers were nice and the process of getting our udon was straightforward. I wish the tempura bar had more items, it was really small. I got the Tomatama Curry with Cheese Katsu (on the side), which was good, but not amazing. The noodles were a bit harder than I would've liked. Glad I tried this though, it was a fun and unique dish! read more

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We order on kiosk for to go. Whoever prep it didn't put sauce or broth for our order of Nikutama and cream broth. We only found out when we got home. We only have udon and the condiments. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Menus are on the outside, walk inside, order, and then pay. Grab a table and then enjoy your meal! Quick, easy, and tasty Japanese food! Can't go wrong with udon noodles and tempura. Portions are just right. Reg and Large options for the udon noodles. Rice dishes are set in a box. Lots of free parking in the lot and parkade. What else can you ask for! read more

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The 5 star reviews must be paid for or from family and friends. This place is AWFUL. It's like you're eating in a dirty airport cafeteria. You walk in, order your udon, self service tempura, they hand the udon to you, you pay and go sit and get your own utensils, sauces and napkins. No condiments except for tempura sauce, chilli flakes and a super oily container of chilli oil all at the counter for everyone to share. The udon was LUKEWARM. Disgusting. Bland. Just awful. I cannot stress how awful. Tempura was whatever. Everyone in our group left about 80-90% of the udon uneaten. So gross. I've had better meals on airplanes and in hospital cafeterias. Best part of the meal was the can of coke. Then we had to bus our own table before we left. How is this place still in business? read more

Food is amazing! Love the place from Hawaii. Line is pretty long but usually moves pretty quickly. Highly recommend going to the restaurant as they open to have the least amount of wait. Would definitely recommend, best udon and tempura in OC. read more

This place is located in Diamond Jamboree. In contrast to the Ajisen that used to be here, it is fast food similar to the place in the Costa Mesa Mitsuwa where one takes a tray and walks down the aisle with it to select tempura for purchase. They also have a kiosk for takeout orders. I would have tried that but we were in a party so I had to adhere to eating in with them, and I had to order verbally. Fortunately I didn't have to say much, though I might want to try to order like a foreign tourist sometime to see if it's possible to do it nonverbally. The staff was nice, and I was able to be terse to complete the transaction. Apparently one picks their own seat. The noodles tasted pretty good though I felt the flavor was kind of ordinary and I should have gotten something less expensive. The rest of my party seemed to like what they ordered. The air conditioner dropped its condensation on us. We probably shouldn't have taken the seat underneath a dripping air conditioner. Looking up at the ceiling, this might have been a problem no matter where we sat indoors. While I like this place it feels somewhat unintuitive at first glance and would probably be better off somewhere with bigger windows which would allow me to comprehend what the location is from its initial appearance. The line going out the door during some days didn't help. read more

After a long day of class, Marugame Udon really hits the spot! The staff were incredibly friendly, the environment was clean and welcoming, and they checked on me from time to time to make sure everything was okay. After I finished my meal, a staff member even volunteered to take my tray, which I truly appreciated. Great food and even better service. I will definitely be back! read more

Marugame Udon - Kitsune Udon - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Great service, the line moves very fast. Multiple options for food and can customize as needed Food is delicious - I love adding the fire ball to mine for a little spice. Few drink options, but they are good. The store is very clean and servers are attentive picking up dishes when finished eating. One thing to note is that there are not always all of the tempura options available. Sometimes there are only 2-4 options :/. Otherwise would recommend and is delicious! I love the tonkotsu. read more

Marugame Udon - Creamy Broth Udon-Tonkotsu Style and Potato Croquette - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Food: Nikutama, Curry Nikutama, Shrimp & Squid Tempura, Gekikara Fireball (Add-on) Price: $13.29 | $14.99 | $2.25 (For both Tempura) |$0.75 Overall: Marugame is always crowded at Costa Mesa so I am glad that there was a second location in Irvine at Diamond Jamboree. We came around dinner time on a Wednesday and there was plenty of seating and no line. My go to order is Nikutama and my boyfriend's is the curry nikutama with the side of tempura. I also wanted to make my udon spicy so I added the Gekikara Fireball and it was the best decision! I also always order the regular as well since I feel like they give a good amount of food and it gets me full. Solid udon spot plus quick service is a big thumbs up for me! read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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I and my friend respectively got Tonkotsu udon & Curry udon! The service was good and the food is delicious, especially the tempura foods! read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

The size of the regular bowl has gotten smaller, but it's still filling. The new tomataka curry udon was interesting but could be better as the flavor of the tomato was way overshadowed by the curry and you could barely tell there's egg in it read more

Marugame Udon - Tomatama Curry Udon - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Fir being in Diamond jamboree, this place is hot garbage. I literally watched them rip open a bag of beef for the bento box and just warm it up in a pot. Better off going next door to Hmart and going to the hot section. Not fresh, not good Staff could care less upon entering the establishment. This place is on par with Panda Express read more

My second time coming here and the food does not disappoint!! The server Zoe was also so tending, I would definitely recommend coming here again! read more

Quick and affordable meal! I really wanted to try their new menu item--the katsu curry udon--and it didn't disappoint! It definitely is quite heavy though. Curry is quite thick and adds great flavor to the udon. Katsu on top was fresh and they gave a good amount of it! I would recommend trying it if you're thinking about it! Overall you get what you pay for. As for this location, there's also plenty of seats so it accommodated our large group perfectly! read more

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A very much welcomed closer location of Marugame Udon. They have opened in the Diamond Jamboree plaza where Ajisen used to be. Be careful not to park on the Hmart side because that's for customers only. You can park on the other parking lot or the parking structure. Upon entering, there is a kiosk for take-out orders, or cafeteria style area for dine-in orders. It was a cold evening so soup was exactly what I needed. I ordered a regular size Nikutama ($12.55) which comes with sweet beef and soft boiled egg. The broth is light and savory. The egg is so soft boiled it's like it's perfectly poached. They top it with tempura flakes and green onions. Because of the cafeteria style line, you'll have to pass by the temptation of the tempura... or TEMPT-pura haha. Ahh, I'm so lame. I couldn't resist and added a Shrimp ($2.25), Pumpkin ($1.95), and Sweet Potato ($1.95) tempuras. It adds up quick. You pay at the cashier before seating yourself. The tables along the wall were dirty so I ended up sitting at another table by the door, which was colder. It's all self-serve here so you go get your own chop sticks, spoon, napkins, water, and tempura dipping sauce. You even put your dishes and tray away at the end when you're done. Considering how much self-served is required their price point could be brought down a little more. It cost as much as a full sit-down restaurant. Nevertheless I enjoy their customization and flavor combinations compared to other competitors. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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I believe the menu is slightly different than the Costa Mesa location. I'm excited that there's a new location in Irvine!! I stopped by in the afternoon on Wednesday and there was no wait. The beef udon is yummy, no feedback honestly. Lots of dining space and some outdoor seating. I wish there more non pork options, like I believe there was non for the curry dishes. So that's a feedback for the restaurant and menu. read more

Marugame Udon - Beef udon - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Udon noodles super chewy $15.34 for a bowl with minimal leftover noodles Atmosphere is clean and lively with lots of office workers during lunch, so minor wait Music is chill and Japanese, I even shazamed one cuz I liked their stuff lol Cold beef nikutama hit the spot, they give lots of beef and a touch of ginger was perfect with the sweet broth. Fireball paste is a spicy and flavorful addition Service was friendly and I didn't need to scream over a tall glass window for them to hear me Tempura was pricier than I'd like, so I didn't get any $3ish per piece They added eel bento too! read more

I had never been here before despite seeing it all over California and the world for that matter. The line always kept me away but the Irvine one was actually pretty chill when I went on a weeknight. I'm so happy that they have TWO vegan options! Hubby and I got the vegan miso udon and the vegan tan tan to share. The vegan ground soy protein is in both dishes but the broth and the toppings are different. I liked the tan tan flavor better - I though there was more richness and complexity than the miso. Overall the soy protein was too salty though so it made both dishes too salty. Still, I would get it again because I appreciate being able to have a vegan protein in a meal. Love how quick the service is. I got a couple veggie katsu too and they were delicious! read more

Marugame Udon - Vegan miso udon - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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I love going to the DJ Plaza because of all the food and dessert options they have, so I was so excited to see that they recently added a Marugame! The service is so quick and they're very friendly. I went with my friends around 2pm, and it was not busy at all. Our food was prepared right away, which was perfect because we came in starving LOL. I enjoyed the indoor and outdoor seating options throughout the restaurant. I like this location a lot more than the Costa Mesa location because it feels more open and provides more space for bigger parties. I definitely plan to come back when I'm craving udon! read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Marugame is the classic udon spot to go to! The ownership/management of this location went out of their way to make sure we were taken care of which was awesome but since we went only a little after it opened, we'll have to check back in to see if that changes! Loved the food and shoutout to the tempura/croquette/gyoza options for offering change in textures and a great pairing to the udon! read more

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Marugame is a classic spot when I want some thick noodles and hearty soup! I always get the BK udon because it's super cheap! and I can add to my meal by getting the crispy, fried tempura. My favorites are the classic shrimp tempura, sweet potato, and chicken! Their chicken is juicy and fried to perfection! read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Favorite lunch place! By my work, they move quickly, and great value. The establishment is always clean, and the folks working are friendly. Especially Firas, every time I see him, he's got a smile on his face and super responsive. The food, is delish. My usual go to is the Tonkatsu, but lately I've been going with the Beef Udon and enjoying it with tempura flakes. read more

Marugame Udon - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Curry nikutama - udon bouncy and chewy. curry broth had a subtle flavor, though it was a bit on the watered-down side and not very salty. generous beef toppings were tender, with a slight sweetness. poached egg added a creamy richness that tied everything together. The space is a bit limited, with tables positioned closely together, making it a challenge to squeeze through while holding your udon. However, the staff is attentive and ready to assist, ensuring you're comfortable as you navigate to your seat. Shop located in DJ which is always packed - extra parking available in nearby parking structure. read more

Marugame Udon - Curry Nikutama - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Newest addition to Diamond Jamboree right next to H-Mart. Been waiting for a while for this place to open and glad it is here, otherwise, I think I would have to go to South Coast Plaza. Service was quick and friendly. We ordered Curry Nikutama (L), the Nikutama (regular) and the Tonkotsu. I also added a fried chicken and tamago. The udon were firm and chewy, the way I enjoyed it. The curry was full of flavor with sever large pieces of beef. It can get a bit heavy, so be forewarned. The Tonkotsu had a bit of a kick to it but otherwise was hefty in flavor. This is one of the best "fast food" places to go if you're in a rush, assuming the line doesn't get too crazy. Interior is clean and there's a counter for you to get your own water, utinsil, napkins, etc. Parking can be a challenge because, well, you're in Diamond Jamboree. Enjoy! read more

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